Relation of serum irisin levels with adiposity, components of metabolic syndrome and carotid intima media thickness in prepubertal children with obesity: a cross-sectional study.

Aim: Irisin, a newly discovered adipomyokine, has pleiotropic effects in metabolic and energy homeostasis, insulin resistance (IR), and browning of white adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate irisin levels in children with obesity and also to elucidate possible relationships between irisin with anthropometric obesity indices, parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and intima media thickness (IMT).

Methods: A total of 77 prepubertal children, 4-12 years old, were enrolled in this study, including 44 children with obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and 33 normal weight controls of matched age and gender.

Lifestyle and Pharmacological Interventions and Treatment Indications for the Management of Obesity in Children and Adolescents.

Obesity is a multifactorial chronic impairment that further decreases quality of life and life expectancy. Worldwide, childhood obesity has become a pandemic health issue causing several comorbidities that frequently present already in childhood, including cardiovascular (hypertension, dyslipidemia), metabolic (Type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome), respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, obese children frequently experience stress and psychosocial symptoms, including mood disorders, anxiety, prejudice and low self-esteem.

Bariatric surgery in the management of childhood and adolescence obesity.

Background: Nowadays, childhood obesity is literally a global pandemic health problem. According to current data, pediatric obesity is strongly associated with adult excess weight status as well as the development of certain co morbidities, already present in childhood, including cardiovascular disorders (dyslipidemia, hypertension), endocrine/metabolic (Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome), respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal problems. Additionally, children with obesity frequently experience psychosocial issues, such as mood disorders, anxiety, prejudice and low self-esteem.

Cardiovascular disease in childhood: the role of obesity.

In recent years, childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic health problem. It is now evident from many studies that childhood obesity is correlated with adult excess weight status and the development of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. The exposure to obesity and to the above risk factors during childhood subsequently lead to atherosclerotic development, such as altered vascular structure and function, although the mechanisms are still unclear.